Rembrandt van Rijn
1606-1669 · Dutch (Leiden/Amsterdam) · Dutch Golden Age
Known for: Greatest painter of the Dutch Golden Age, master of light, shadow, and brutally honest self-portraits
Rembrandt was the supreme master of light, shadow, and psychological depth. His Night Watch redefined group portraiture, and his 90+ self-portraits constitute the most honest autobiography in art - charting his journey from cocky young genius to humbled, bankrupt old man.
He earned vast sums but spent lavishly on art collections, exotic curiosities, and a grand Amsterdam house, eventually going bankrupt. He refused to flatter his subjects, insisting on penetrating honesty that sometimes cost him commissions.
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